Cryptographic encoded ticket issuing and collection system for remote purchasers

1. An offline ticket issuing and collection system using a Distributed Information System (DIS) including web sites and portable collection terminals for cryptographically encoded tickets, comprising: a) means for enabling an operator to access the DIS to purchase a ticket from a web site for an event or the like electronically described by an owner or operator of the web site; b) means included in the web site for preparing an electronic ticket including ticket information in cryptographic code definitive of the event sought to be attended by the operator; c) means for displaying the electronic ticket sought to be purchased by the purchaser for approval prior to purchase; d) means for printing a hardcopy ticket sought to be purchased, after approval of the electronic ticket by the purchaser, the hardcopy ticket including a bar code definitive of the cryptographic code for authentication purposes; and e) means for collecting the hard copy ticket at the event.

2. The system of claim 1 further including means in a portable collection terminal for scanning the hardcopy ticket and decrypting the encoded message to validate the use of the hardcopy ticket for the event.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) means for storing information indicative of validated tickets accepted for the event in the portable collection terminal; and b) means for uploading the stored information to an information processing system.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) means for storing an asymmetric or symmetric key in the portable collection terminal.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) means for changing the cryptographic key used at the portable collection terminal according to the event.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the cryptographic code in the electronic ticket is represented as a bar code in the hardcopy ticket.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) means for including a digital signature with the ticket information.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) means for encrypting a digital signature and the ticket information in a cipher code using an asymmetric key.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising: a) portable terminal means for validating and recording ticket information in tickets accepted for the event; and b) means for comparing the stored ticket information against ticket information collected and stored in a host system to determine hardcopy ticket duplication.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: a) scanning the hardcopy ticket and decrypting the encoded message to validate the use of the hardcopy ticket for the event using the portable collection terminal including a cryptographic key for decrypting the encoded message.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of: a) translating the cryptographic code of the electronic ticket into a bar code for the hardcopy ticket.

12. In an offline ticket issuing and collection system using a Distributed Information System (DIS) coupled to stations responsive to at least one purchaser desiring to purchase a ticket from a DIS seller to an event and portable collection terminals for validating and accepting tickets to the event, a method for determining the validity of purchased tickets for the event, comprising the steps of: a) accessing the distributed information system through station to purchase a ticket to the event from the DIS seller; b) preparing in the DIS an electronic ticket definitive of the event and sought to be purchased by the purchaser; c) displaying at the station the electronic ticket for approval by the purchaser prior to purchase; d) transmitting the electronic ticket to the station for printout of a hardcopy ticket, after approval of the electronic ticket by the purchaser, the electronic ticket including an encoded message descriptive of the purchaser and the event for incorporation into the hardcopy ticket; and e) collecting the hardcopy ticket at the event.